At least MSU is back to winning games by luck, strange circumstances, or controversy.

That's how it used to be: Michigan winning most of the games with Spartan victories coming amid fortunate bounces and one in a million incidents. So far, in 6 games, Harbaugh and his staff coached these players (recruited under another coach and a mediocre, emergency quarterback) to come within 10 seconds of a win over a team that had outscored them 64-17 in the last 2 games.

I expect a Harbaugh-led Michigan program to fully restore the rivalry by winning 2 of the next 3 at a minimum.

Dantonio didn't "go to extremes" to find motivational material. Mike Hart flat out gave it to him on national TV. Might as well have pinned it to the MSU locker room door.

Here's the thing: Mike Hart wasn't wrong. At the time, Michigan had won 14 of the last 20 matchup with MSU in football, including 5 in a row (I'm not googling these stats, they might be a little off...but they're close). And when MSU did win, there was controversy (Clockgate, Deamond getting tripped in the end zone).

The point is, Mike Hart's statement was true at the time. Still, I wish he would've never said it. It was unsportsmanlike, but, that can be forgiven considering the context of when he was interviewed.

Furthermore, MSU is "all grown up" now. Routinely whipping Michigan's ass in football. Also, Michigan's recent dominance in basketball is just a blip after a long history of MSU consistent winning.

The "little brother" comment, even though it was true when said, has done WAY more harm than good, in my opinion.

It seems kind of hypocritical and juvenile to taunt MSU fans for citing recent football history exclusively when referring to the 'dominance' of their football program over UM...and then turn around and use the recent UM basketball record to rationalize today's loss.

"...people are admitted to a University because they have a particular skill, are expected to hone that skill upwards of 40 hours a week, and also get a meaningful degree in something totally unrelated..."

Not necessarily disagreeing here, but, music students get a degree in music. It's entirely related to their field of study.

Music gets "lumped in as an acceptable academic pursuit" because music is academic. Music degrees are not entirely about performance on ones major instrument. Music students do not just practice their instruments, take a few unrelated classes, and graduate with a degree. The list of related academic music classes is long and challenging.

Advanced degrees (as well as experience) are required in order to teach music at the highest levels. The academic rigor required for Masters level and PhD/DMA students, as well as applicants to the highest music teaching jobs worldwide, are constantly increasing. As far as I know, high level coaching jobs require little in the way of academic rigor and lean heavily on experience.

All in all, a thought provoking post. Not sure the music degree analogy is exactly perfect, but, it's a good place to start. Some parallels there, to be sure.

"Willie Henry took the brunt of a Michigan State OL to the side of his knee, just like Denard took late hits and Mike Martin took a dirty chop block long after things had been decided. As per usual, Michigan shrugged at it."

Norfleet has been severely underutilized and devalued as an offensive contributor at Michigan. As one of the only, if the only truly explosive player on offense (speed-wise, anyway), he should have a MUCH bigger role on every series. Can you possibly envision him being involved to this minimal degree as a player for A&M, Baylor, Oregon, Indiana, Alabama, et al?

I didn't love the Hart comments at the time. Still don't really. That stuff always seems to have a way of coming back around and biting you in the backside.
However, as a friend of mine explained to me when we were talking about this, Mike Hart was CORRECT. Up until then (and even including recent history) the overwhelming balance of these games were won by Michigan. Games that MSU won frequently were controversial (Clockgate, Phantom PI on Desmond in the end zone, etc). Very typical of a match up between a dominant big brother and an upstart little brother.
I'm not saying Hart should've said it...but...he's not wrong.

Just flipped past and saw the Block M on the screen. Stuck around to watch the 30 second interview (Brady looked nervous on camera, actually) and then, for some reason, listened while those 3 blowhards laughed at Michigan. Desmond just smiling through it all. Then I remembered why I don't watch pregame, halftime, or postgame shows and quickly changed the channel. I do not need those guys to tell me what they 'think' or describe what I already saw.

To open with App State and end with Miss State. That's rough. I was 1993-1997.

As a band member, I personally witnessed: Gary Moeller/Lloyd Carr transition, Remy Hamilton with the game winner at ND '94 (Michigan fans rushing the field in South Bend), Kordell Stewart, Biakabutuka rush for 313, Purdue '95 (the coldest I've ever been), Purdue '96 (very disappointing), Tyrone Wheatley, Charles Woodson, Virginia '95 (Driesbach-Hayes to complete the comback and win 18-17 in the 4th quarter...also, Lloyd's first game as head coach), Bowl losses to A+M and 'Bama, Bowl wins over Colorado State and NC State. 4 years sandwiched between Rose Bowls.

That was back when we thought 8-4 was kind of a bad season. I remember being disappointed that I never got to march in a Rose Parade. Somehow, the expectiations have fallen since then.